Killing’s Again

Kashmir is once again in news, this time with another spell of killings and mayhem. While there is a lot of disconnect and discord between alliance partners including PDP-BJP, a lot is happening on the politically charged turf of the disputed Himalayan Jammu and Kashmir. Two policemen were killed after a militant attacked a police party accompanying a group of detenues at SMHS hospital in Srinagar on Tuesday. DIG Central Kashmir Ghulam Hassan Bhat was reported to that a militant opened fire on a police party accompanying a group of around seven detenues for medical check-up at the hospital. Two policemen were injured in the attack. One of them succumbed while the other one is being treated at the hospital. One of the one of the detenues, identified as militant Naveed Jat alias Abu Hanzullah from Pakistan, who was arrested in 2014, managed to flee. The situation in Kashmir region is witnessing a paradigm shift. This incident has also casted many questions on the police and security grid of the State. Although police in Kashmir region has sounded red alert in Srinagar and the area cordoned off to nab him and the assailant. The deceased policeman was identified as constable Mushtaq Ahmad. Later, the second policeman, identified as Babar Ahmad of Shangas Anantnag, also succumbed, taking the toll to two. The ill effects of violence have engulfed the Kashmir region. What did militants get out of killings two policemen who were deputed with the militant commander for carrying out a medical examination? Chief Minister is reported to have said that civil society must rise to the occasion to make the future of our younger generation peaceful. Political pandits believe that this summer is going to be a very volatile season of this year. The state government must look in to the loopholes created by the vested interest and also reach out to the Hurriyat leadership with some concrete and honest efforts. The Hurriyat leadership must also understand that revolution doesn’t only demand making the government malfunctioning but create a sense of responsibility and accountability among the people for holding the leadership and politicians answerable for their wrong doings. The killings must end. The killings, which have rendered many households orphaned, must stop. We have seen how a drastic change in the mindset of militants and the people, especially, youngsters lining up around encounter sites. They don’t hesitate to face bullets and bombs. This must be a deepest cause of concern for the government, security agencies and the civil society at large.